Tag: Father’s Day

Father’s Day, Heat Waves and Evening Fun

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The day after the reunion was Fathers Day! In the end the day wasn’t too busy or crazy, but thats because the long anticipated heatwave was moving in and it was hot! The mercury hit 110 in the San Fernando Valley ad it was not fun.

In the early afternoon we met with my parents and sister as well as Grantie Fran at Pizza Cookery for lunch. Not only did we get to see Fran but we had the chance to eat at one of our favorite places. Boy, do I miss their salad and ranch dressing. Yummy! Lunch was a great time catching up. My parents and sister have not seen Fran since we moved away, so I know they enjoyed the time spent with her.

After lunch we tried to take a drive around the valley but after about 30 minutes it was becoming very apparent that it was too hot, even for our cars AC. So we headed back to the hotel room and took naps and hung out until it cooled off and we could go over to visit Grandpa and Uncle James.

Selfies and staying cool in our hotel room.
Playing Minecraft and passing through the heat of the day.
What mom?
Pretty girl was a little wary of all the people in her yard.
Ellie, I think that tryke is just a little too small for you!
Picking apples from Grandpa’s tree.
Dancing, singing and posing.
Wharton gathering…
Relaxing… and if I remember correctly, someone tooted too. I wonder who?

The evening at Grandpa Pats was pretty relaxed and fun. The girls had the chance to run around in the backyard and play with Nonnie, as well has hang out with Uncle James. They picked apples off of Grandpa’s apple tree and attempted to ride tricycles that are now way too small for them. It was great to slow down and visit. I think we were all in need of some relaxation. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay late because Shaun had to work down in Santa Monica the next day, but we’d be back soon!

Happy Fathers Day!

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Happy Fathers Day to some of the most amazing men that I know! 
To my grandfathers, where ever they may be, I love you and miss you so very much. I feel a bit lost without you and miss the little things, like being taught how to properly use a scientific calculator or being told stories as we traveled through Wyoming and Montana about how the Yucca plant and other feathered brush were the Natives hiding and waiting for us. Its those things that will stick with me forever.
To my dad, the man who taught me to look towards the sky and dream. To imagine and dare to to wonder what is out there. Who taught me to love the outdoors, how to fish, to spot a grizzly from a distant hill and to learn how to use a camera. For being an amazing Grandpa who always makes his girls laugh and keep them constantly in wonder.
To my father in law, Patrick, who helped raise and shape the man that I love so much. For welcoming me into his family with open arms and with a few warnings about the family I was gaining (be wary of those Olivers, *wink, wink*). From a special memory of a moment shared at our wedding to a love and appreciation of hockey (and some good humored jabs about my love and intensity for the sport.), to being an amazing grandfather who 
To Shaun, the most amazing husband a girl could ask for. We have been through ups, downs and more moves in our marriage then most but we have survived and had fun doing it. You are an amazing father; kind, patient, always excited to show them something new and always there to pick them up when they stumble. Each day you show them how to dream, how to keep reaching for what they want and how to learn from their mistakes. You make them giggle with your silly stories and songs but you are firm when they need guidance. Such a wonderful father, so much so that I could go on for days. I love you and thank you for all you do!

Happy Fathers Day to all of the amazing men out there! Know that you are loved and appreciated every day.

Our 6th Anniversary and a Very Happy Father’s Day

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Happy 6th Anniversary…

I cannot believe I am saying 6th anniversary! Then again, I think I say that every year! It feels like only yesterday Shaun and I were married and we had the best party with all of our family and friends, brush fires and all! Our day wasn’t perfect, in the sense that not everything went off without a hitch, but it was perfect to us because we were surrounded by the ones we love. In life, that’s what matter most. 

Not much has changed since then. When the road gets tough and we are faced with challenges, I try to to worry because I know I have Shaun right there with me. He is the cool, calm and level headed person that balances my often emotional and reactive personality. In my mind we are a perfect match and after six years our relationship is better and stronger then it was before.

The year leading up to our 6th Anniversary has been a bit more rocky and challenging than the years past. But the one good thing about all of those challenges is that it has given us some wonderful perspective and allowed us to appreciate the things that we do have, each other. Here is what we were doing leading up to our 6th Anniversary…

  • Abby performed in her very first dance recital. She was adorable and did such a great job! We were all so proud of her and I cannot wait to see what the future brings, assuming she wants to keep dancing. 🙂
  • Celebrated Ellie’s 2nd Birthday and watched her grow even more. She is talking more than we can can keep up with and learning all the time. Ellie is has definitely started to show her stubborn side. Age two is going to be interesting! We also discovered that Ellie has an issue with her vision. She has an astigmatism and is also very nearsighted. To correct the problem and strengthen her eye she will need glasses during her crucial development years, so until about age 10. I was worried at first but she is darn cute in those glasses.
  • Overnight Ellie was potty trained! All it took was a trip to Grandpa and Nana’s, some pull ups, a princess potty and some hot summer days to run around in her birthday suit!
  • In September, Abby started her first year of school at St. Stephens Preschool. Where does the time go? Preschool already? There were a few years from Mommy and Daddy too!
  • Abby, Ellie, Auntie Kelli and myself took a fantastic road trip up to Montana near the beginning of September. WE missed Daddy a lot but a girls road trip was a hoot. I also enjoyed sharing some of my favorite places with Kelli and she enjoyed it too!
  • Unfortunately, at the beginning of October Shaun was laid off from his job at Sony. It was a scary and very startling reality to life. The unknown is scary but we have each other, the support of family and friends and faith in the fact that things will get better soon. For now we will enjoy the time we have with one another.
  • Abby celebrated her 4th Birthday and she has grown by leaps and bounds since. Abby is learning so much at school and at home, it amazes me. She soaks up everything at school, loves to learn, and is making lots of new friends. 
  • On October 31st, my Grandma Taylor passed away. It was unexpected, at least for me. We went to St. George to say goodbye and visit with family. Abby came with us and was such a good girl. She had a lot of questions about her Grandma Tutu, but listened and learned with the poise of an adult. I was so proud of her. It was a difficult time but knowing that she is now with my Grandpa brings me a lot of peace. Miss you Grandma and love you so much!
  • Dance began again and this time Ellie started and had her very first dance class. It took a few tries, but in the end she loved it! She loves Miss Elizabeth and talks about her nonstop! I cannot wait for recital!
  • We enjoyed another trip at Christmas time to Montana. No mishaps with bumpers or Montana drivers this time! Instead we enjoyed time with family, including my cousin Mike and his beautiful fiance Sue. Abby and Ellie didn’t get to see as much snow as they would have liked, but they made the best of it. Grandpa even bust out the sled and we found him dragging them around the neighborhood on several occasions. It was a fun and relaxing trip. We had to pinch our pennies but we found ways of having fun and loving the time we had!
  • The NHL lock out finally came to and end and the hockey season began. Shaun surprised me with tickets to the first home game which meant we had the chance to see the Kings raise their Stanley Cup banner at Staples Center. It was worth every penny and then some!
  • After not having any luck with jobs, Shaun and I decided to take a big leap of faith and made the decision to move to Seattle after the school year ended. We even took a road trip up with Abby to find a place to live. Its scary taking such a risk but I know, as always, we will land on our feet.
So the year has been busy but all of these events occurred in the same city, with the same number of children, in the same house! That is about to change though! What a new and exciting adventure we are about to embark on!
Happy Anniversary Shaun! Here is to another six years and then another hundred after that. I love you so much and I am thankful for all that you have done for me and given to me. I cannot wait to see what the next year brings us, especially in a new city and a new home What an adventure I am sure it will be!

Father’s Day 2010

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“Fatherhood is pretending the present
you love most is soap-on-a-rope.”
Bill Cosby

Shaun’s Father’s Day was calm and fairly quiet, just as I think he wanted it to be. We gave him the chance to sleep in until 11, then Abby and I came bouncing in with gifts, cards and Abby’s giggles. While I am sure he could have slept longer, Shaun seemed very happy to get up and snuggle in bed with his girls while he opened gifts. Abby and I got him plenty of books to sit and read together, including one that compared a daddy to the pet dog. The similarities were uncanny and really fit Shaun…. in a humorous way!


In a way I was given a gift on Father’s Day as well. I had the chance to stop and just watch Shaun and Abby together. I watched him sit on the floor and play with her as she tossed around blocks and tried to hit them with her pink hockey stick. Watch them snuggle on the couch as they watched a movie together and listen to their conversations. I always knew it, but in those moments I felt so blessed to have a husband and best friend like Shaun. He is an amazing husband but more importantly, he is an even more amazing father. While I am still nervous about what the future holds as we add another little girl to our family, I am excited and feel at ease knowing the love and devotion the both of us have for our children and just how much of it comes from the most important man in our lives.

“It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge.”
Phyllis Diller